After Enlightenment (eBook)

The Post-Secular Vision of J. G. Hamann

John R. Betz (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2009
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-1-4443-0458-9 (ISBN)

Infos

After Enlightenment: Hamann as Post-Secular Visionary is a comprehensive introduction to the life and works of eighteenth-century German philosopher, J. G. Hamann, the founding father of what has come to be known as Radical Orthodoxy. Provides a long-overdue, comprehensive introduction to Haman's fascinating life and controversial works, including his role as a friend and critic of Kant and some of the most renowned German intellectuals of the age Features substantial new translations of the most important passages from across Hamann's writings, some of which have never been translated into English Examines Hamann's highly original views on a range of topics, including faith, reason, revelation, Christianity, biblical exegesis, Socrates, theological aesthetics, language, sexuality, religion, politics, and the relationship between Judaism and Christianity Presents Hamann as the 'founding father' of a distinctly post-modern, post-secular theology and, as such, as an alternative to the 'postmodern triumvirate' of Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Derrida Considers Hamann's work as a touchtone of modern Jewish-Christian dialogue, in view of debates with his friend Moses Mendelssohn Explores Hamann's role as the visionary founder of a 'metacritical' movement that radically calls into question the basic principles of modern secular reason, and thus reprises the debate between those defending Hamann's views and those labeling him the b te noir of the Enlightenment

Autor

John R. Betz is Associate Professor of Systematic and Philosophical Theology at the University of Notre Dame, having previously taught theology at Loyola University Maryland. He has published several articles on Hamann, including Hamann's London Writings and on his significance to Kierkegaard.

Rezensionen

"This is a scholar's book, breaking new ground in the study of
eighteenth-century philosophy, and those responsible for teaching
modern philosophy and theology should be warned: on picking up this
book, you risk having to revise substantial portions of your
lectures. This is the sort of book that ought to change the way we
think about Europe's so-called Enlightenment, and the intellectual
paths that we have walked ever since." (Anglican Theological
Review, 2012)

"Simply put, Betz's accomplishment is superb. He
comprehensively introduces the entire span of Hamann's work
in its theological and philosophical significance ... though
much remains to be done in thinking with Hamann, Betz's work
is a major accomplishment that deserves wide readership."
--Lutheran Quarterly

"This is an important book for at least two reasons. On
the one hand, it is a complete, reliable, and agreeably written
introduction to Johann Georg Hamann's life, work and world.
On the other hand, it contributes substantially to the ongoing
discussion in contemporary theology and philosophy about the
seemingly ineradicable tension between modernity and
Christianity." --Modern Theology

"After Enlightenment has much to offer those who are
familiar with Hamann, as well as those who are not. The way Betz
handles Hamann's difficult writings and communicates his
thought is a clear and precise manner is praiseworthy ... The
comprehensiveness of the study is enhanced by the ease of
Betz's prose, offering a tremendous tool for understanding
the enigmatic yet fruitful 'Magus of the North'."
--Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

"[Betz] has produced the best and fullest survey of the
life and writings of Johann Georg Hamann in a generation, helpfully
including many passages from Hamann's letters and
publications and commenting intelligently on the style, theology,
philosophy, and (to a lesser extent) historical context of
Hamann's notoriously obscure oeuvre; second, he has written
an intellectual history covering Hamann's relation to the
major figures of his time as well as his subsequent influence on
and reception by philosophers and theologians down to our own
day." --Church History

"John Betz' book is arguably the single best work on
Hamann in the English speaking world and the most informed recent
work on Hamann in any language. Hamann is as profound as he is
obscure; hence a comprehensive interpretation of Hamann in
relationship to the philosophers, theologians, and literati of his
own time with an eye constantly upon our own intellectual context,
is a rare achievement. I warmly commend After Enlightenment to a
wide readership."

--Reinhard Huetter, Duke University

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 30.1.2009
• Reihe/Serie: Illuminations: Theory & Religion
• Reihe/Serie: Illuminations: Theory & Religion
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Geschichte der Philosophie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Philosophie der Neuzeit
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie
• Schlagworte: betz presents hamann • contemporary theology • Critics • debates • Engagements • Enlightenment • fascinating • Founder • gradually • Hamann • important • Including • Intellectual • Introduction • Kant • language • Life • Moderne Theologie • origin • Perspective • Postmodern Theology • Range • recognized • Religion & Theology • Religion u. Theologie • Theologe • Theologie der Postmoderne • Time • Topics • Unique • Views
• ISBN-10: 1-4443-0458-5 / 1444304585
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4443-0458-9 / 9781444304589